2008 Woodie Awards
Students shocked by night study cut
Brady Holt
Issue date: 7/17/08 Section: News
McKeldin Library may end its late-night study service to pay for pricier journal subscriptions, university officials said.
Although university officials are quick to point out that ending late-night study is just one option the university is considering to pay for rapidly rising journal subscription costs, students who worked the late-night shift were told they should find other jobs in an e-mail last month.
Eight students worked regularly at the library during late-night study, which ran from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.
"Because of uncertainty of whether or not we will continue to have a late-night study service in the Libraries, I encourage you to seek employment elsewhere. Thank you very much for working with us here in the Library," read the e-mail from Cindy Todd, coordinator for information and research services in the library's public services division, provided to The Diamondback by a library employee.
"I think late-night is being reviewed, along with all of the operations of the library," said interim associate provost Mahlon Straszheim. "How can the library get more out of its resources with the higher prices of the journals? That's the fundamental question."
"Let me emphasize that no final decision has been made," said Interim Dean of Libraries Desider Vikor.
But neither could explain the e-mail sent to the late-night employees. Vikor and Straszheim both said they did not know there was such an email. Todd, who sent the message, referred questions to Public Services Director Tanner Wray, who referred questions to Vikor.
Sherdina Randolph, an African-American studies major who graduated in May and had worked McKeldin's late-night shift for two semesters, said in an e-mail she was "shocked" by Todd's email.
"I couldn't believe they were discontinuing this service for those students who were dedicated to their studies," she said. It would be a "disservice to the college," she continued.
The cuts may be necessary to help pay for the cost of journal subscriptions and other materials, which have been rapidly rising. Last fall, the University Library Council reported to the University Senate that library traffic was up 72 percent since 1998, but funding had not kept up with inflation prices. The report said the cost of library materials had risen 7.5 to 10 percent since 2002, resulting in a "resource crisis."
Although university officials are quick to point out that ending late-night study is just one option the university is considering to pay for rapidly rising journal subscription costs, students who worked the late-night shift were told they should find other jobs in an e-mail last month.
Eight students worked regularly at the library during late-night study, which ran from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.
"Because of uncertainty of whether or not we will continue to have a late-night study service in the Libraries, I encourage you to seek employment elsewhere. Thank you very much for working with us here in the Library," read the e-mail from Cindy Todd, coordinator for information and research services in the library's public services division, provided to The Diamondback by a library employee.
"I think late-night is being reviewed, along with all of the operations of the library," said interim associate provost Mahlon Straszheim. "How can the library get more out of its resources with the higher prices of the journals? That's the fundamental question."
"Let me emphasize that no final decision has been made," said Interim Dean of Libraries Desider Vikor.
But neither could explain the e-mail sent to the late-night employees. Vikor and Straszheim both said they did not know there was such an email. Todd, who sent the message, referred questions to Public Services Director Tanner Wray, who referred questions to Vikor.
Sherdina Randolph, an African-American studies major who graduated in May and had worked McKeldin's late-night shift for two semesters, said in an e-mail she was "shocked" by Todd's email.
"I couldn't believe they were discontinuing this service for those students who were dedicated to their studies," she said. It would be a "disservice to the college," she continued.
The cuts may be necessary to help pay for the cost of journal subscriptions and other materials, which have been rapidly rising. Last fall, the University Library Council reported to the University Senate that library traffic was up 72 percent since 1998, but funding had not kept up with inflation prices. The report said the cost of library materials had risen 7.5 to 10 percent since 2002, resulting in a "resource crisis."
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 8
thefrontpage
posted 7/17/08 @ 2:00 PM EST
What is happening at College Park? What on earth? There just seems to be one stupid, outrageously stupid, move after another lately. The white elephant, unneeded and environmentally-damaging boondoggle development that is a huge waste of money. (Continued…)
More idiocy
posted 7/18/08 @ 12:15 PM EST
Well 'Greg' and 'WhySays?' nice try but you need to try again. All of the study lounges in my dorm were converted to doubles and triples because of the housing crunch. (Continued…)
Nova
posted 7/19/08 @ 8:55 PM EST
I've been unceremoniously kicked off campus, so I'll be late-night-studying in my bedroom at home instead of at McKeldin, but it was a nice resource while I was there. (Continued…)
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